[Rossetti, Christina- VERSES, 1847, HER COPY: IMPORTANT MULTI-FACETED ASSOCIATION COPY OF HER FIRST BOOK, WITH AUTOGRAPH LETTER, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND BY FRANK BURGESS, NOTED ROSSETTI ASSOCIATE] Verses

London: Privately printed at G. Polidori's (i.e Gaetano Polidori, Christina's grandfather on her Mother's side), 1847. First Edition. First Edition. Christina Rossetti's Own Copy of her First Book, Inscribed Posthumously in the year of her death by her brother William Michael Rossetti. The inscription is on the front free fly: "W. M. Rossetti/ from Christina's books/ 1894." An astonishing ASSOCIATION COPY with many inscriptions and presentations, as well as an important ALS from Christina to the recipient, bound-in. A magnificent and finely bound copy of Christina Rossetti's excessively rare first book, privately published by her grandfather in 1847 (Christina was only 17), with a many-faceted presentation and provenance history. The book is beautifully BOUND BY THE RECIPIENT, FRANK WALTER BURGESS (see last paragraph for more detail) in full turquoise morocco with ornate gilt tooling to covers and spine, and bearing rich full morocco decorated doublures, who was a well-known rare book dealer (and bookbinder). Burgess was a close associate of the Rossetti family, and especially William Michael Rossetti, with whom he was in regular correspondence, especially after the death of his two famous siblings Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Christina Rossetti, when William entered into extensive correspondence with Burgess. It is known that Frank Burgess purchased some manuscripts written by William's brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti and other family members, and W. M. Rossetti corresponded back and forth with Burgess (over a hundred letters) during the two years leading up to Burgess's premature death in July, 1899. From the lengthy Book Collector article by Roger W. Peaty (Spring 1994): "It was not until 19 September that he [Burgess] that he declared himself a book cover designer by sending Rossetti [Dante] a rubbing of his cover for a copy of Christina Rossetti's Verse, 1847 [the rubbing is pictured in the article, and identical match to our binding]. Rossetti liked the design, complementing him on 20 September that 'You have made a genuinely elegant & artistic design... much better for instance than any of Mr. Macdougall's ornamentations to The Blessed Damozel. You ought to make a reputation in this line if it suits you to persevere.' Burgess replied on 20 November that he had been so exceedingly pleased & encouraged' by Rossetti's approval that he had immediately set to work on several more designs. Famously, Burgess went on to design the wonderful cover art to "Ruskin: Rossetti: Pre-Raphaelitism Papers," George Allen, 1899.

THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK IS INSCRIBED TO BURGESS FROM WILLIAM MICHAEL ROSSETTI on a preliminary page, ìTo Frank W. Burgess, WMR, Feb 3, 1898.î Above that, the book is SIGNED IN PENCIL BY CHRISTINA'S AUNT, CHARLOTTE POLIDORI, who was the daughter of Gaetano, the publisher of Christina's 1847 Verses. She was a governess, and was actively involved in the family's day to day affairs. As well, the book has the notation (in WMR's hand) facing that page, in pencil: ìLENT TO MACKENZIE BELL BY W.M. ROSSETTI, 1895,î indicating William had earlier lent this book to Bell who was CHRISTINA ROSSETTI'S FIRST BIOGRAPHER, and then received it back, to later gift it (or sell it) to Burgess.

Finally, completing this superb circle of association, BURGESS HAS TIPPED IN A LETTER (1893) FROM CHRISTINA (TO BURGESS, THOUGH NOT ADDRESSED AS SUCH) during a period when Burgess was contacting and querying the W. M. Rossetti for material to purchase, etc. The letter, which is expertly bound-in via a tab at the gutter (i.e. not laid-in), is AN IMPORTANT, UNPUBLISHED LETTER, SPEAKING OF HER BOOK WITH GREAT HUMILITY: ì30 Torrington Square- London- W.C. August 10, 1893. Dear Sir, I had not a Theodore Watts [underlined] to offer you, but have been successful in begging one which I enclose. I had no idea that my little unpublished book had ever reached such a price as you mention. Except as a curiosity, more or less, I doubt whether it ought to fetch 1/-. Thank you for your own charming sonnet. Sincerely Yours, Christina G. Rossetti.î Two pages, on folded sheet, mounted on tab. A fascinating letter, mentioning in humility her little unpublished book, which in fact was indeed published, albeit privately. And what a poignant association, writing this letter to Burgess only a year prior to her death, and then having the book circle back to him five years later.

The book CONTAINS ITS ORIGINAL EXCESSIVELY RARE RED CLOTH FRONT COVER BOUND-IN AT BACK WITH BOLD GILT LETTERING SURROUNDED BY GILT WREATH BORDERING (not cited in Maura Ives Bibliography, Oak Knoll Press, 2011). This cloth binding was likely bound either by Christina or William, as Christina's copies were obtained from her grandfather in sheets. EXPERTLY BOUND BY FRANK BURGESS, who is now known to have been quite an accomplished bookbinder, but not commercially. The binding is expertly designed and crafted in full crushed turquoise with attractive gilt stylized long stem Tudor roses on both covers with petals and buds, spine with raised bands and compartments gilt with similar designs. The binding is highlighted with full two-color inlaid doublures (turquoise and red) bearing ornate gilt tooling at all four corners. Side edges with single gilt filet ruling, all edges gilt lightly marbled card free fly sheets. Original cloth cover bound-in at back. A truly stunning assortment of association interest surrounding this wonderful offering, apart from being one of the rarest and most sought-after of any Pre-Raphaelite book ever published. (6283) Provenance: obtained from a private collector who had owned this book for years. A FINE COPY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF WEAR.